PGN at Indiana University - New Member Retreat

In Spring 2022, PGN Delta Psi planned a day-long event to instill the organization’s three pillars in its New Members. The pillar focused on most closely in the recent retreat, was professionalism.

LinkedIn outlined its ten most important attributes for the modern businessperson. The article spotlighted presentation skills, teamwork, and communication skills as three of these characteristics. Based on this article, the IU New Member Educators ensured the retreat was composed of events that helped each and every attendee of the New Member class develop these skills.

The Directors of New Member Education hosted a “Rock of PGN” event, where participants were split into five teams to present a nearby object and convince the judges why it represents PGN’s three pillars. This activity encouraged every New Member to publicly speak with little time to prepare, to work in teams to find the object and outline the presentation, and to use effective communication skills (like convincing body language and tone of voice) to win the contest.

Additionally, the retreat provided New Members with a chance to network and connect on a more personal level. One of the New Members was able to showcase his guitar skills for his peers. He was able to quickly build rapport with the other New Member class musicians and will be able to continue developing those connections back on campus.

Delta Psi believes that this event should absolutely be instituted in every future New Member Education (NME) process. The NME team at the IU chapter saw enormous growth in every individual in this class, as well as the class as whole. Entering into an organization of 160+ members can be extremely intimidating. Not only did this class have the opportunity to build the three professional skills outlined above, but it allowed every individual to form bonds with others around them and set a foundation for developing deeper bonds with their peers in the years to come.

Nicole Rooks, IU VP Finance ‘21 - ‘22